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NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences is a 21+ after-hours event every Thursday in San Francisco, where science meets nightlife. Explore the rainforest, sip cocktails by glowing jellyfish, catch a planetarium show, and dance to live DJs—all in a museum that transforms into an adult playground after dark.

Here's your plan for Thursday nights: explore the rainforest, enjoy cocktails, and watch stars

Thursday Nights at NightLife
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Experience a unique blend of nightlife and science at California Academy of Sciences, featuring rainforest visits, aquarium tours, and rooftop cocktails in San Francisco.

Museum Nightlife

✅ Before you go
• Buy in advance online: https://www.calacademy.org/nightlife. ($25 general, $15 for members); planetarium shows are extra (+$5) and often sell out fast. 
• Doors open at 6 PM, last entry at 9 PM, event ends at 10 PM.
• 21+ only, bring a physical ID.
• Bars and light bites available—cashless only.
• parking is available here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/i8DMgNqHdrRzPZCQ6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

💪 Pro tips
• Hit the rainforest early—last entry is 7:30 PM, and it gets crowded.
• Reserve your planetarium ticket when buying entry to avoid missing out.
• Dress in layers—indoor temps vary between the aquarium, rainforest, and rooftop.
• Explore themed nights—check the schedule for special DJs, talks, and hands-on activities.
• End on the living roof for a quiet city view and a great photo op before you go.

Head to Nightlife at California Academy of the Sciences

you and a friend arrive at the Cal Academy of the Sciences in Golden Gate Park.

and the spiral path leads you past lush green leaves all the way up to the canopy.

head down to the aquarium where you walk under catfish,

and it's easy to get lost watching the fish swim.

Grab a quick bite and enjoy the variety of food options,

then head to the planetarium for a 30 minute showing.

and the narrator takes you on a tour through space.

you wander through other exhibits like the dinosaurs outside where a T.

The city sparkles in the distance and it's peaceful up there enjoying a cocktail,

still thinking about jellyfish and returning every Thursday night.

Come to Cobb’s Comedy for dinner, drinks, and a comedy show! 

Here's your plan for dinner and drinks at Cobb's Comedy, followed by a hilarious comedy show

Dinner, Drinks, and Lots of Laughs 

At Cobb's Comedy Club in San Francisco, find your seats to enjoy a stellar lineup of comedy acts with gallery seating available for busy shows.

Comedy Show

✅ Before you go
• Buy tickets online or at the box office 

💪 Pro tips
• There’s gallery seating for busy shows

Find your seats 

At Cobb's Comedy Club, fulfill the two-drink minimum while enjoying a full dinner menu with tableside service in San Francisco’s Russian Hill.

Dinner and Drinks

✅ Before you go
• 2 drink minimum

💪 Pro tips
• The minimum includes non-alcoholic beverages but not food

Order dinner and drinks

Tonight we're headed to Cobb's Comedy for their comedy All-Star show.

Cobbs has been open since 1982 and is a staple of the comedy scene in San Francisco.

They featured headliners like Michelle Wolf,

The club has a full service bar and a full dinner menu with tableside service.

We ordered garlic fries and some drinks to accompany the show.

who started us out strong and introduced us to our first.

Not only was he hilarious in his own right,

but I loved the niche San Francisco specific jokes.

Our headliner for the evening was Frankie Quinones.

He came onto the stage dancing and beatboxing,

so you knew it was going to be a good time.

He's the creator of the viral Cholo fit and is filming an upcoming special with Hulu.

He had the crowd in fits up until the very last minute.

I love the diversity of comedians that Cobbs brings in.

There's truly something funny for everyone's sense of humor.

So cheers to another successful San Francisco night.

Spend the day living your best lawn life at Stern Grove with San Francisco Croquet Club. For just $20 a person, your get a full-on croquet tournament experience - gear, instruction, and all the good vibes included.

Here's your plan for a fun day of croquet at Stern Grove with friends and snacks

Learn Croquet at Stern Grove 

Enjoy a full-day croquet experience at Stern Grove Park with gear, instruction, and a tournament, all for $20 per person.

Croquet Tournament

✅ Before you go
• Contact the San Francisco Croquet Club to make a reservation: https://www.sfcroquetclub.com/
• Dress the part by wearing traditional whites and a collared shirt! 

💪 Pro tips
• It's BYO food and booze, so don’t forget to pack your picnic spreads, cold drinks, and plenty of celebratory snacks.

Croquet at Stern Grove 

Grab your crew and get ready for a day of croquet

in the magical Stern Grove with the San Francisco Croquet Club.

and all the techniques to smack a ball with a mallet.

Our guide Ruben was awesome and made it fun for everyone.

Ruben helped us set up a tournament and stayed with us the

whole time to referee the games and keep things running smoothly.

Whether you're in it to win it or just there for the laughs,

Modern Cantonese dishes meet playful presentation with colorful dim sum, flavorful dumplings, and a sleek, art-filled space that’s as vibrant as the menu.

Here's your plan for enjoying vibrant dim sum at Palette Tea House in Ghirardelli Square

Artsy Dim Sum in Ghirardelli Square

Visit Palette Tea House in San Francisco for an artsy dim sum experience with vibrant flavors and a colorful, modern setting.

Cantonese Dining

✅ Before you go
• Make a reservation at https://www.exploretock.com/paletteteahouse/
• Check out their extensive menu at https://paletteteahouse.com/san-francisco-palette-tea-house-food-menu

💪 Pro tips
• Their rainbow-colored Palette Soup Dumpling "XLB" Sampler is a MUST!
• Some of our favorite dishes included the XO Wagyu Beef Fried Rice, the Peking Duck Set, the Cha Siu Pork, and the Pork & Shrimp Siu Mai
• Get one of their fine teas like the Chrysanthemum or Oolong to enjoy with your dishes
• You’ll have a palette where you can place different colored sauces like they were paint – it’s a great way to experience different combination of flavors
• Every Wednesday is buy one, get one half-off bottled wine special
• The restaurant is designed with events in mind so they can accommodate parties of 10 - 200

Head over to Palette Tea House San Francisco

Sometimes you win some and then you dim sum,

which is why we're here to eat everything,

This was like a work of art that was not only tasty but also vibrant.

located in the plaza of Ghirardelli Square,

is known for their bright ceilings and blending

traditional Cantonese flavors with modern culinary artistry.

I mean marking what you want from the menu.

you pour colorful sauces into your palate,

It was exciting getting to try so many different

flavors and customizing our bites like these duck pancakes.

You knew it was good when the chopsticks were chopping,

I love how colorful our soupy dumplings were.

The ultimate 21+ thursday night experience is at the California Academy of Sciences! 

Here's your plan for a fun Thursday night at the California Academy of Sciences! Enjoy attractions, drinks, and music

NightLife 

Experience a unique nightlife at California Academy of Sciences with themed Thursdays featuring exhibits, a bar, and live performances in San Francisco.

NightLife Event

✅ Before you go
• Check out museum website for up to date NightLife event details: https://www.calacademy.org/nightlife?_gl=1*vcu8ec*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2N2_BhCAARIsAK4pEkU-d4l4ygPeKDluVo6pTDfIAZVlHnQt2sdpfV_jroYEr6-KwUME8N0aAo4uEALw_wcB
• Have your online or printed ticket ready to go before walking to the entrance
• Don’t bring anything not allowed inside since you will have to go through security prior to entering

💪 Pro tips
• Get drinks earlier into the night to avoid longer lines. Longest wait time is usually at the stand by the Claude the Alligator exhibit - so keep that in mind
• Visit the Rainforest and Aquarium first as those exhibits tend to be the most popular throughout the night

California Academy of Sciences

It's a Thursday night and I want to have some fun in the city,

so I hop in the Waymo and head off to the California Academy of Sciences.

I went to the entrance and got my ticket scanned.

Then I headed into the rainforest to check out

all the greenery and cool animals that live here,

like this bird that was posing for the camera.

So many different animals from fish to turtles,

it was really cool to see them all in their element.

My favorite areas were the rainforest and the aquarium,

but you can also check out the Natural History Museum,

or pay an additional $5 to visit the Planetarium.

After my trip to the depths of the ocean,

They had several of these stations by each exhibit,

which made it nice and convenient to grab a drink.

Every Thursday there was a different theme to the night,

and tonight they had some dancers performing along with the DJ

NightLife and we'll definitely be coming back again.